Alternative Vote (AV) - A preferential, plurality-majority system used in single-member districtsin which voters use numbers to mark their preferences on the ballot paper. A candidate who receives over 50% of first-preferences is declared elected. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority of first-preferences, votes are re-allocated until one candidate has an absolute majority of votes cast

used in in which voters use numbers to mark their preferences on the ballot paper. A candidate who receives over 50% of first-preferences is declared elected. If no candidate achieves an absolute majority of first-preferences, votes are re-allocated unfit one candidate has an absolute majority of votes cast

Block Vote - A plurality-majority system used in multi-member districts in whichelectors have as many votes as there are candidates to be elected. Voting can be eithercandidate-centeredor party-centered. Counting is identical to a First Past the Post system, with the candidates with the highest vote totals winning the seats. Also known as or Bloc Vote.

A used in in whichelectors have as many votes as there are candidates to be elected. Voting can be eitheror Counting is identical to a system, with the candidates with the highest vote totals winning the seats. Also known as or Bloc Vote.

Candidate-centered Ballot - A form of ballot in which an elector chooses between candidates.

A form of ballot in which an elector chooses between candidates.

Categorical Ballot - A form of ballot in which only a single choice for a candidate or party can be made.

A form of ballot in which only a single choice for a candidate or party can be made.

Choice voting - The single transferable vote form of proportional representation, in which voters rank candidates in order of choice, all candidates who reach the threshold are elected, surplus votes are distributed to voters' next choices, and the candidates with the fewest votes are successively eliminated until all seats are filled.

Communal Roll - A register of voters in which ascriptive criteria such as race or ethnicity determine which electors can enroll to vote, and which candidates can be elected, within the wider electoral contest.

A register of voters in which ascriptive criteria such as race or ethnicity determine which electors can enroll to vote, and which candidates can be elected, within the wider electoral contest.

One way of working out results by the method. Uses divisors of 1,2,3,4, etc.

Democratic Consolidation - The process by which a nation's political institutions and democratic procedures become legitimized and broadly accepted by both political actors and the wider population.

The process by which a nation's political institutions and democratic procedures become legitimized and broadly accepted by both political actors and the wider population.

Distribution Requirements - The requirement that to win election a candidate must not merely win a specified proportion of the vote nationally but also a specified degree of support from different regions.

The requirement that to win election a candidate must not merely win a specified proportion of the vote nationally but also a specified degree of support from different regions.

District - Geographic areas into which a country is divided for electoral purposes. Districts may return one member to parliaments or more than one.

Geographic areas into which a country is divided for electoral purposes. Districts may return one member to parliaments or more than one.

Droop Quota - Used in highest average list PRandSTVelectoral systemsto determine how seats are awarded. The quota is ascertained by the following formula: total vote divided by the number of seats plus one, then one is added to the product.

Used in andto determine how seats are awarded. The quota is ascertained by the following formula: total vote divided by the number of seats plus one, then one is added to the product.

Electoral Formula - That part of the electoral system dealing specifically with the translation of votes into seats.

That part of the electoral system dealing specifically with the translation of votes into seats.

Electoral Law - The constitutional and legal provisions governing all aspects of the electoral process.

The constitutional and legal provisions governing all aspects of the electoral process.

Full Representation (PR) - Any system which consciously attempts to reduce the disparity between a party's share of the national vote and its share of the parliamentary seats. For example, if a party wins 40 per cent of the votes, it should win approximately 40 per cent of the seats.

Gerrymandering - The deliberate manipulation of district boundaries so as to advantage or disadvantage a particular interest.

Highest Average Method - A formula used with list PRsystems to translate votes into seats. Party vote totals are divided by a series of devisors, under d'Hondt (by 1,2,3, etc.) or Sainte-Lagu (by 1,3,5, etc.) formula. After each stage the party with the highest average wins the seat. The count continues with party vote totals being divided by sequential numbers until all seats are filled.

A formula used with systems to translate votes into seats. Party vote totals are divided by a series of devisors, under d'Hondt (by 1,2,3, etc.) or Sainte-Lagu (by 1,3,5, etc.) formula. After each stage the party with the highest average wins the seat. The count continues with party vote totals being divided by sequential numbers until all seats are filled.

Sometimes used in to determine how seats are awarded. The is ascertained by the following formula: total vote divided by the number of seats plus two.

Index of Disproportionality - A figure which illustrates the collective disparity between the votes cast for parties in an election and the seats in parliament they win.

A figure which illustrates the collective disparity between the votes cast for parties in an election and the seats in parliament they win.

Invalid Votes - Ballots which, due to accidental or deliberate errors of marking on the part of voters, are unable to be included in the count.

Ballots which, due to accidental or deliberate errors of marking on the part of voters, are unable to be included in the count.

Instant Runoff Voting (IRV)-Instant runoff voting is a winner-take-all, constitutionally protected, voting system that ensures a winning candidate will receive an absolute majority of votes rather than a simple plurality. IRV eliminates the need for runoff elections by allowing voters to rank their candidates in order of preference.

Largest Remainder Method - TheHare, DroopandImperialicalculation methods which translate votes into seats within list PRsystems. There are two stages to the count. First, parties are awarded seats in proportion to the number of quotas they fulfill (quotas vary depending on which of the three systems are used). Second, remainingseats are awarded to parties on the basis of the left over votes they possess after the 'quota' stage of the count. Largest remainder seats are allocated in order of vote size.

Theandcalculation methods which translate votes into seats within systems. There are two stages to the count. First, parties are awarded seats in proportion to the number of quotas they fulfill (quotas vary depending on which of the three systems are used). Second, remainingseats are awarded to parties on the basis of the left over votes they possess after the 'quota' stage of the count. Largest remainder seats are allocated in order of vote size.

used in in which electors have more than one vote but fewer votes than there are candidates to be elected. Counting is identical to a system, with the candidates with the highest vote totals winning the seats.

List Proportional Representation (List PR) - In its most simple form List PR involves each party presenting a list of candidates to the electorate, voters vote for a party, and parties receive seats in proportion to their overall share of the national vote. Winning candidates are taken from the lists. Lists can be open, closed, or free.

In its most simple form List PR involves each party presenting a list of candidates to the electorate, voters vote for a party, and parties receive seats in proportion to their overall share of the national vote. Winning candidates are taken from the lists. Lists can be , , or .

Majority-Plurality (Two-Round System) - In French Two-Round elections any candidate who has received the votes of over 12.5 per cent of the registered electorate in the first round can stand in the second round. Whoever wins the highest numbers of votes in the second round is then declared aimed, regardless of whether they have won an absolute majority or not. We therefore refer to it as majority-plurality variant of the two-round system.

In French Two-Round elections any candidate who has received the votes of over 12.5 per cent of the registered electorate in the first round can stand in the second round. Whoever wins the highest numbers of votes in the second round is then declared aimed, regardless of whether they have won an absolute majority or not. We therefore refer to it as majority-plurality variant of the

Majority-Runoff (Two-Round System) - The most common method for the second round of voting in a Two-Round System is a straight 'run-off" contest between the two highest vote-winners from the first round - this we term a majority-runoff system.

The most common method for the second round of voting in a Two-Round System is a straight 'run-off" contest between the two highest vote-winners from the first round - this we term a majority-runoff system.

Manufactured Majority - Where a single party wins less than 50 per cent of the valid votes, but an absolute majority of the parliamentary seats.

Where a single party wins less than 50 per cent of the valid votes, but an absolute majority of the parliamentary seats.

Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) - Systems in which a proportion of the parliament (usually half is elected from plurality-majority districts, while the remaining members are chosen from PR lists. Under MMP the list PR seats compensate for any disproportionality produced by the district seat results.

Systems in which a proportion of the parliament (usually half is elected from while the remaining members are chosen from PR lists. Under MMP the seats compensate for any disproportionality produced by the seat results.

The distinguishing feature of plurality-majority systems is that they almost always use In a system, the winner is the candidate with a plurality of votes, but not necessarily an absolute majority of the votes. When this system is used in it becomes Majority systems, such as the Australian and the Frenchtry to ensure that the winning candidate receives an absolute majority of votes cast.

Preferential Voting- Electoral systemsin which voters can rank-order candidates on the ballot paper in order of their choice. The Alternative Vote, the Single Transferable Voteand the system used to elect the Sri Lankan president are all examples of preferential voting. We prefer the term, choice voting, for the proportional form of preferential voting, which is also referred to the single transferable vote (STV).